Quadriceps Strengthening With Patellar Taping in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Among Young Adult Male Athletes

Efficacy of Electromyographic-biofeedback Supplementation Training on Quadriceps Strengthening With Patellar Taping in Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome Among Young Adult Male Athletes

This study aims to investigate the effects of electromyography biofeedback (EMG-BF) guided isometric quadriceps strengthening with patellar taping and isometric exercise alone in young adult male athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

A total of 60 adult male athletes aged 18 to 45 years will be recruited from two cities (Majmaah and Riyadh) of Saudi Arabia. Subjects will be included with the history of knee pain during activities such as descending and ascending stairs, squatting, and running, had positive J sign (lateral tilt of patella), and a sign of patellar malalignment on the radiograph. Individuals with the history of fracture around knee, patella dislocation, knee deformity (e.g., genu varum), flexion contracture, ligaments/meniscal injuries, and osteoarthritis of knee will be excluded from the study. The protocol was submitted to and approved by the ethical sub-committee of College of applied medical science, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia (Ethics number: MUREC-Nov./COM-2O20/11-2). Participants will be requested to sign a written informed consent form approved by the institution ethics committee.

Participants will be randomly assigned to Group A (experimental group): electromyography biofeedback (EMG-BF) guided maximum voluntary isometric contraction exercise with patellar taping; Group B (control group): sham EMG-BF guided maximum voluntary isometric contraction without patellar taping. The outcome measure for this study will be the mean changes in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the quadriceps muscle, pain intensity, and functional status up to 6 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Knee pain during activities such as descending and ascending stairs, squatting, and running,
2. Positive J sign (lateral tilt of patella),
3. Sign of patellar malalignment on radiograph.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Fracture around knee,
2. Patella dislocation,
3. Knee deformity (e.g., genu varum),
4. Knee flexion contracture,
5. Ligaments/meniscal injuries, and
6. Osteoarthritis of knee.